Scrap booking

Call me an old lady, but I have to say, scrap booking kicks ass! Yeah, I might be doing it because I have quite a bit of down time right now, but I remember even in my most hectic of times, my best friend Jules and I would look forward to sitting down and work in our books. It's surprisingly therapeutic, exercising your mind and thoughts while being creative at the same time. Not only is it fun to create these journals or books, but really half the fun is hunting for unique books to use, like this one from Anthropologie. They don't (and honestly shouldn't) be like those over-sized one's that you always need a ladder to retrieve and spread out across a whole kitchen table to show to people. The point is to have these journals for your own keep-sake and not necessarily to display to the whole world, but at the same time have out for display looking nice and pretty. So try it out, you'll be pleasantly surprised the tranquility it will bring you.

Ms. Professional

Lately I've been catching myself gazing at leather women brief cases. Whether they be made of newly bound leather, purchased from a high-fashion boutique, or a banged up (yet still intact) hand-me down from dad or grandpa, or better yet, an awesome vintage find, women briefcases hands down are probably the most classy/elegant/chic way for any woman to tote around any piece of paper. So next time you're downtown and you spot a "successful" man carrying one of these classic brief cases thinking he's hot shit, keep in the back of your head that you could pull it off better . . . and some day you will, with you're kick ass Jimmy Choo's and all.

Chirp

I know this sounds really cheesy, but I absolutely love waking up to the sound of birds chirping in the morning, especially in the spring. For me it's a sign that the dark months of winter are coming to an end and the warming days of spring are upon arrival. Having grown up with a nest outside my window, I've learned to appreciate the earlier bird chirper convo's telling me to get up!; whereas for others, might instead initiate the serious consideration in investing in either a small shotgun or sling-shot. However one may feel about the little birdies, to me there says nothing more than spring is on its way.

Love You Mirror

One thing that I can't get enough of is mirrored furniture, it probably is the coolest thing out there. It's chic, elegant, fun, creative, and just beautiful to look at. Why wouldn't someone want to have this beautiful piece in their home?

OK just made the BEST cookies ever! I don't want to call them necessarily "healthy" cookies, but I guess due to the fact that there is no butter, no flour and no eggs in the recipe, and by first glance look as if someone wearing Birkenstock's made them, then they might be considered on the "healthier" side. I stumbled across the recipe on the wonderful website of 101cookbooks.com (best website ever!) under "Nikki's Healthy Cookies". I did a little tweekin', such as substituting dates for the chocolate (didn't have good chocolate on hand ) and added more banana to make them a bit thicker I guess. Fresh out of the oven, I put them in my yogurt like granola and had a mouth dancing with fantastic goodness. They're wonderful because they can be used for any craving, even just for a simple snack, but for those who are picky about "altered" sweets than these might not be for you. But those like me who love experimenting than enjoy!

You can make your own almond meal by pulsing almonds in a food processor until it is the texture of sand - don't go too far or you'll end up with almond butter. And lastly, the coconut oil works beautifully here, just be sure to warm it a bit - enough that it is no longer solid, which makes it easier to incorporate into the bananas

3 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut oil, barely warm - so it isn't solid (or alternately, olive oil)
2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup almond meal
1/3 cup coconut, finely shredded & unsweetened
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 - 7 ounces chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, racks in the top third.

In a large bowl combine the bananas, vanilla extract, and coconut oil. Set aside. In another bowl whisk together the oats, almond meal, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks/chips.The dough is a bit looser than a standard cookie dough, don't worry about it. Drop dollops of the dough, each about 2 teaspoons in size, an inch apart, onto a parchment (or Silpat) lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes. I baked these as long as possible without burning the bottoms and they were perfect - just shy of 15 minutes seems to be about right in my oven.

Reuse, Recycle

Sitting at my desk and with it being over a month of Christmas being done, I still manage to have christmas ornaments hanging in my apt. My mom, probably being one of the most creative people I know, gives us each christmas really funky christmas tree ornaments from Anthro, which are usually decked out in gold, feathers, or some other funky material. They usually have nothing to do with christmas, meaning birds, butterflies, various other animals and sometimes stars or pretty shapes. Now with the holiday's being long gone, I don't want to put them away.... so rather I've decided to just hang them up all over. They make me happy and add something different to the room; plus it's a pretty economical way of decorating I'd say.

I Love...

waking up under a wonderfully warm feathered comforter with one of my grandma's hand-made quilts drowning in pillows
amazingly scented soy candles (which unfortunately cost the price of someone's arm here in Italy)
silk robes and pajamas
french soap
gold
hand-blown glass
parfume (no woman should ever leave the house without it)
purple
a nice cup of herbal tea, but better yet, the perfect cup of coffee
a bowl of grapes
meringue
a good stinky cheese
a fresh, crisp, yet dry glass of champagne
Timbaland
. . . I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but this is what rolled off my finger tips